Over the years, the CF has been a comprehensive source of fisheries statistics. The government as well as the private sector needs these pieces of information as bases in planning development programs and in formulating policies for the improvement of the Philippine economy.

 Specifically, the CF 2002 is essential for it provides the following:

	Inventory of the country’s fishery resources which is useful in making more meaningful decisions with respect to the use of these resources;
	Baseline information like the inventory of fishing gears/accessories/devices and gross tonnage of fishing boats/vessels used in the fishing operation, and total area/volume of aquafarms;
	Basic information on the kind of fishing gear mainly used species cultured in the aquafarm and other information which are useful to investors and small fishermen in planning the quantity and types of commodities that should be produced;
	Statistics on the structure of fishing enterprise and other information which could serve as framework for the country’s development programs;
	Benchmark for various statistical series which are designed to measure progress in fisheries;
	Sampling frame for various surveys in fisheries; and
	Data needed by the United Nations Organizations for international comparability and for monitoring the world food situation. (The CAF 2002 is being planned in consonance with the World Census Program of the Food and Agriculture Organization).